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Lanai Hawaii

Lanai is very small - only 140 square miles- and quiet island. The population of Lanai is 3,000 people. Lanai has one airport (Lanai airport) and only three hotels, two of them are luxury resorts.

As a legend says, Lanai was an evil place, overrun with demons. Perhaps, the small island, that lacked the resources other islands had, was perceived as inhospitable and evil place. For nearly 1,000 years after Polynesians settled Hawaii, Lanai remained uninhabited. Then, according to the legend, the demons were driven out by Kaulalaau (exiled son of a West Maui king), and Hawaiians finally came to live on Lanai.

Over the years, Lanai has gone through different stages of development. The island was used for sugarcane raising and cattle grazing. In 1922 it was purchased by a pineapple company and developed as a pineapple-growing center. Nowadays pineapple is no longer grown here commercially, but the nickname of Lanai -the Pineapple Isle- still remains.

Two popular places on Lanai, Hawaii are the Garden of the Gods and Shipwreck Beach.

Gardens of God

Garden of the Gods is a windswept plateau area at the west end of Lanai. The relentless winds have been weathered queer forms of cliff sides. The exposed hillsides and rock formations reveal the very earthy tones of red, rust, russet, yellow and brown. This lunar-like landscape is especially impressive in the early morning or late afternoon sunlight.

Shipwreck beach

Shipwreck beach is a 8-mile -long stretch of white sand on the north of Lanai. The beach was named for the rusting World War II Liberty ship that lists off its shore. It can be dangerous to swim here, as the undercurrents are often strong, and there are no lifeguards. But beachcombers love this place, because everything from Nautilus shells to timbers to old wooden riggers wash ashore. In the winter and early spring this beach is one of Lanai's best whale-watching spots.